The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is one of the most iconic cricket grounds across the globe. It holds the record for hosting the most international matches. Constructed in the early 1980s, the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is located in the United Arab Emirates’ emirate of Sharjah. The stadium immediately became a regular venue for international matches after it was opened to the public in 1982, as the popularity of one-day cricket was on the rise those days. Between 1984 and 2003, the stadium held 198 ODIs and four Tests. On April 6, 1984, the first-ever international match at this venue was played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the 1984 Asia Cup.
An Overview of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium
| Venue Name | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Opened | 1982 |
| Location | Second Industrial St – Industrial Area 5 – Industrial Area – Sharjah – United Arab Emirates |
| Seating Capacity | 16,000 |
| Pitch Behavior | Slow wicket that tends to get slower with the game’s progression |
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 58 meters |
| Longest Boundary Distance | 65 meters |
| Bowling Ends | Pavilion End, Sharjah Club End |
| Floodlights | Yes |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Behaviour
The pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium helps fast bowlers early in the game. Batters can also get some benefit from the track’s pace and bounce while facing the new ball. However, as the ball gets older, spinners enter the game due to the slowness of the surface.
Read More: Sheikh Zayed Stadium || Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Records & Stats
The Sharjah Stadium has hosted the most international matches to date—299. The best score at this venue was New Zealand’s 690 against Pakistan in a Test match, while Hong Kong’s 38 runs against Pakistan in T20Is is the lowest total at this ground.
| Total Matches | 299 |
| Average 1st inning score | 353 in Tests 223 in ODIs 151 in T20Is |
| Highest total recorded | 690 by New Zealand vs Pakistan in Tests 364/7 by Pakistan vs New Zealand in ODIs 215/6 by Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in T20Is |
| Lowest total recorded | 53 by Pakistan vs Australia in Tests 54 by India vs Sri Lanka in ODIs 38 by Hong Kong vs Pakistan in T20Is |
| Highest score chased | 302/5 by Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Tests 285/4 by West Indies vs Pakistan in ODIs 179/6 by Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan in T20Is |
| Highest individual score | 202 Bredndon McCllum for New Zealand vs Pakistan in Test 189 Sanath Jayasuriya for Sri Lanka vs India in ODIs 118* Mohammed Shahzad for Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in T20Is |
| Best bowling performance | 7/94 Mark Craig for New Zealand vs Pakistan in Tests 7/30 Mutthaiya Murlidharan for Sri Lanka vs India in ODIs 5/13 Shamiullah Shinwari for Afghanistan vs Kenya in T20Is |
India Record at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
India has played in only the 50-over format at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. India has played 72 ODIs in Sharjah, winning 35 and losing 37.
| Played | 72 |
| Won | 35 |
| Lost | 37 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
India Test Record at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
India has never taken part in a Test match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
| Played | 0 |
| Won | 0 |
| Lost | 0 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
India ODI Record at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
With 35 victories and 37 defeats in their 72 one-day international matches at Sharjah Stadium, Team India has experienced almost equal amounts of success and failure.
| Played | 72 |
| Won | 35 |
| Lost | 37 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
India T20I Record at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
In the shortest format of the game, India has not played yet in Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
| Played | 0 |
| Won | 0 |
| Lost | 0 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium IPL Records & Stats
With 28 games held so far, the stadium has proven to be a popular venue for the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Delhi Capitals’ 228/4 is the highest score at this ground, which they record against the Kolkata Knight Riders. With a score of 106 for the Punjab Kings, Mayank Agarwal has the highest individual IPL score at this venue.
| City | Sharjah | ||
| Country | United Arab Emirates | ||
| First Match | 17/04/2014 DC vs RCB | ||
| Matches Played | 28 | ||
| Matches Won Batting First | 10 | ||
| Matches Won Batting Second | 18 | ||
| Matches Won Winning Toss | 16 | ||
| Matches Won Losing Toss | 12 | ||
| Matches with No Result | 0 | ||
| Highest Individual Innings | 106 | Mayank Agarwal (Punjab Kings) | vs Rajasthan Royals |
| Best Bowling | 4/13 | Lakshmipati Balaji (Punjab Kings) | vs Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Highest Team Innings | 228/4 (Delhi Capitals) | vs Kolkata Knight Riders | |
| Lowest Team Innings | 85 (Rajasthan Royals) | vs Kolkata Knight Riders | |
| Average Score Batting First | 159 | ||
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Photos
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Capacity
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium can hold up to 16,000 spectators.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Boundary Length
At Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the longest boundary measures 65 meters, while the shortest one measures only 58 meters.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Location
Second Industrial St – Industrial Area 5 – Industrial Area – Sharjah – United Arab Emirates
Also Read: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium || Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
FAQs
Is Sharjah stadium for batting or bowling?
The pitch at Sharjah is considered to be batting-friendly, although it provides some help to pacers as well, and in the longer format of the game, spinners dominate at this ground.
Which country is Sharjah Cricket Stadium in?
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is located in the Sharjah Emirate of the United Arab Emirates.
Why is Sharjah famous for cricket?
Sharjah is famous for having a stadium that has a record of hosting the most number of international matches.
When did India stop playing in Sharjah?
Since 2001, India hasn’t played a single cricket match at Sharjah Stadium.
